by MIykael Qorbanyahu aka B. Michael Long
Consider this article a community challenge and call to action, as it was birthed from a conversation that I had with Cascade Media Group’s (CMG) founder Carlos Nelson. After discussing the vision of CMG and the role that media plays in the community, we happened upon a glaring hole in our community that hinges on three essential pillars to the well-being of the community: integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness.
I believe deeply in the power of integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness as the cornerstones of community and human actions. These values are not merely abstract ideals; they are the lifeblood of any thriving society. When I reflect on the communities I’ve been part of, it becomes clear that the strength of our bonds and the effectiveness of our collective endeavors hinge on these pillars.
Integrity, as I’ve come to understand it, is about being consistent in our actions, values, methods and principles. It’s the foundation of trust. When we act with integrity, we build a reputation for reliability and honesty, which creates an environment where people feel safe to invest their time, resources and energy. I’ve seen how communities and organizations crumble when integrity is compromised, and conversely, how they flourish when everyone commits to truthfulness and fairness.
Loyalty is equally crucial. It’s about dynamic accountability with one another as well as a commitment to support one another that goes beyond superficial associations. Loyalty cultivates a sense of belonging and mutual respect. When I think of the communities that have thrived, they have all had a core group of individuals who are unwaveringly loyal to the collective vision and to each other. This loyalty translates into a willingness to work through disagreements and challenges, strengthening the quality of the communal fabric.
Trustworthiness is the third pillar that supports community actions. Trust must be earned and maintained through consistent, transparent actions. When we trust each other, we can collaborate more effectively and take bold actions without fear of betrayal or deceit. Trustworthiness allows us to selflessly share resources and responsibilities, knowing that everyone is equally committed to the group’s success. With trustworthiness at the core of our collective actions, it assured that everyone in the community wins.
Consistency in relation to these pillars is also vital. It’s not enough to have integrity or be trustworthy or loyal sporadically. Consistency breeds reliability and establishes a stable foundation for long-term projects and initiatives. I’ve read about communities with clear and consistent commitments to their values and how they are more cohesive and capable of achieving their goals.
Additionally, commitment is another key factor. A committed individual is one who follows through on promises and takes their responsibilities seriously. Commitment transforms vision into reality. It is evident that when community members are truly committed, they inspire others, creating a ripple effect that amplifies the community’s efforts and impacts.
Another essential element for any community’s success is clarity of vision. A clear vision unites people, providing a common goal to strive towards. It ensures that all actions and initiatives are aligned, preventing wasted efforts and misdirected energy. When I think about the most successful movements and actions I’ve been involved in, they all had a clear, compelling vision that motivated everyone to contribute their best.
Ideology also plays a significant role in shaping community actions. Provides a framework for understanding the world and our place in it, ideology is the guiding force for our decisions and actions. A shared ideology binds people together, creating a sense of purpose and direction. In humble opinion, communities with a strong ideological foundation are more resilient and cohesive, able to weather challenges and stay focused on their long-term goals, ultimately assuring their success. I’m reminded of the famous quote by the late Fred Hampton, “you can the revolutionary, but you can’t kill the revolution.”
Fusing the pillars and principles together, I’m reminded of Muammar Qaddafi’s Green Book. In it he emphasized the importance of direct democracy, arguing that true democracy is not about electing representatives but about people making decisions directly. He wrote, “True democracy exists only through the direct participation of the people, and not through the activity of their representatives. Parliaments have been a legal barrier between the people and the exercise of authority, excluding the masses from meaningful politics and monopolizing sovereignty in their place. People are left with only a facade of democracy, manifested in long queues to cast their election ballots.” This perspective highlights the importance of active participation and direct involvement in decision-making processes, which requires the people to have an established base of integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness.
In line with Qaddafi’s vision are bloc voting and group economics which are vital to a healthy community. Bloc voting ensures that the community’s voice is unified and powerful, making it harder for outside forces to divide and conquer. It amplifies our collective influence, ensuring that our needs and interests are represented effectively. And let me be clear, bloc voting is not just a matter solely focused on ballots and elections; it’s about how we spend our dollars, what we value, who we support and how we make collective decisions as a community.
Group economics is equally crucial. By pooling resources and supporting each other’s businesses, we can create a self-sustaining economic system that reduces our dependence on external entities. I’ve seen firsthand how communities that practice group economics thrive, with local businesses flourishing and wealth circulating within the community. This not only strengthens our economic base but also reinforces our social bonds and collective resilience.
When we consider the values of integrity, loyalty, and trustworthiness, we come to see that they are indispensable for effective community action. Consistency, commitment, and clarity of vision ensure that these values are upheld, while a shared ideology provides direction and purpose. By embracing direct democracy, bloc voting, and group economics, we can build strong, self-reliant communities that are capable of achieving great things together. These principles are not just theoretical; they are practical tools that I have seen transform communities and empower individuals. As we move forward, let us hold fast to these values and practices, knowing that they are the key to our collective success and well-being as the lifeblood of our communities are dependent upon it
Consider this article a community challenge and call to action, as it was birthed from a conversation that I had with Cascade Media Group’s (CMG) founder Carlos Nelson. After discussing the vision of CMG and the role that media plays in the community, we happened upon a glaring hole in our community that hinges on three essential pillars to the well-being of the community: integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness.
I believe deeply in the power of integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness as the cornerstones of community and human actions. These values are not merely abstract ideals; they are the lifeblood of any thriving society. When I reflect on the communities I’ve been part of, it becomes clear that the strength of our bonds and the effectiveness of our collective endeavors hinge on these pillars.
Integrity, as I’ve come to understand it, is about being consistent in our actions, values, methods and principles. It’s the foundation of trust. When we act with integrity, we build a reputation for reliability and honesty, which creates an environment where people feel safe to invest their time, resources and energy. I’ve seen how communities and organizations crumble when integrity is compromised, and conversely, how they flourish when everyone commits to truthfulness and fairness.
Loyalty is equally crucial. It’s about dynamic accountability with one another as well as a commitment to support one another that goes beyond superficial associations. Loyalty cultivates a sense of belonging and mutual respect. When I think of the communities that have thrived, they have all had a core group of individuals who are unwaveringly loyal to the collective vision and to each other. This loyalty translates into a willingness to work through disagreements and challenges, strengthening the quality of the communal fabric.
Trustworthiness is the third pillar that supports community actions. Trust must be earned and maintained through consistent, transparent actions. When we trust each other, we can collaborate more effectively and take bold actions without fear of betrayal or deceit. Trustworthiness allows us to selflessly share resources and responsibilities, knowing that everyone is equally committed to the group’s success. With trustworthiness at the core of our collective actions, it assured that everyone in the community wins.
Consistency in relation to these pillars is also vital. It’s not enough to have integrity or be trustworthy or loyal sporadically. Consistency breeds reliability and establishes a stable foundation for long-term projects and initiatives. I’ve read about communities with clear and consistent commitments to their values and how they are more cohesive and capable of achieving their goals.
Additionally, commitment is another key factor. A committed individual is one who follows through on promises and takes their responsibilities seriously. Commitment transforms vision into reality. It is evident that when community members are truly committed, they inspire others, creating a ripple effect that amplifies the community’s efforts and impacts.
Another essential element for any community’s success is clarity of vision. A clear vision unites people, providing a common goal to strive towards. It ensures that all actions and initiatives are aligned, preventing wasted efforts and misdirected energy. When I think about the most successful movements and actions of which I’ve been involved, they all had a clear, compelling vision that motivated everyone to contribute their best.
Ideology also plays a significant role in shaping community actions. Providing a framework for understanding our environment and the conditions of our circumstance in it, ideology is the guiding force for our decisions and actions. A shared ideology binds people together, creating a sense of purpose and direction. In my humble opinion, communities with a strong ideological foundation are more resilient and cohesive, able to weather challenges and stay focused on their long-term goals, ultimately assuring their success. I’m reminded of the famous quote by the late Fred Hampton relative to the power of ideology: “you can the revolutionary, but you can’t kill the revolution.” Victor Hugo also once said, “there’s nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
Fusing the pillars and principles together, it brings to my mind a quote from Qaddafi’s Green Book. In it he emphasized the importance of direct democracy, arguing that true democracy is not about electing representatives but about people making decisions directly. He wrote, “True democracy exists only through the direct participation of the people, and not through the activity of their representatives. Parliaments have been a legal barrier between the people and the exercise of authority, excluding the masses from meaningful politics and monopolizing sovereignty in their place. People are left with only a facade of democracy, manifested in long queues to cast their election ballots.” This perspective highlights the importance of active participation and direct involvement in decision-making processes, which requires the collective to have an established base of integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness.
In line with Qaddafi’s vision are bloc voting and group economics which are vital to a healthy community. Cascade Media Group has made a call to the greater Kansas City community to establish a voting bloc and group economics. With bloc voting communities are ensured that its voice is unified and powerful, making it harder for outside forces to divide and conquer. It amplifies our collective influence, ensuring that our needs and interests are represented effectively. And let me be clear, bloc voting is not just a matter solely focused on ballots and elections; it’s about how we spend our dollars, what we value, who we support and how we make collective decisions as a community.
Group economics is equally crucial. By pooling resources and supporting each other’s businesses, we can create a self-sustaining economic system that reduces our dependence on external entities. We have all seen firsthand how communities that practice group economics thrive, with local businesses flourishing and wealth circulating within the community. This not only strengthens our economic base but also reinforces our social bonds and collective resilience.
When we consider the values of integrity, loyalty, and trustworthiness, we come to see that they are indispensable for effective community action. Consistency, commitment, and clarity of vision ensure that these values are upheld, while a shared ideology provides direction and purpose. By embracing direct democracy, bloc voting, and group economics, we can build strong, self-reliant communities that are capable of achieving great things together. These principles are not just theoretical; they are practical tools that I have seen transform communities and empower individuals. As we move forward, let us hold fast to these values and practices, knowing that they are the key to our collective success and well-being as the lifeblood of our communities are dependent upon it.
It’s Unity Time!
Cascade Media Group Contributors
MIykael Qorbanyahu aka B. Michael Long
[email protected]
